Definition of 'character'

Word Frequency

character

(kærɪktəʳ )

Word forms: plural characters

1. countable noun

The character of a person or place consists of all the qualities they have that make them distinct from other people or places.

Perhaps there is a negative side to his character that you haven't seen yet.

The character of this country has been formed by immigration. [+ of]

Synonyms: personality, nature, make-up, cast More Synonyms of character

2. singular noun [oft in NOUN]

If something has a particular character, it has a particular quality.

The financial concessions granted to British Aerospace were, he said, of a precarious character.

The state farms were semi-military in character.

3. singular noun

You can use character to refer to the qualities that people from a particular place are believed to have.

Individuality is a valued and inherent part of the British character.

4. countable noun [usually adjective NOUN]

You use character to say what kind of person someone is. For example, if you say that someone is a strange character, you mean they are strange.

It's that kind of courage and determination that makes him such a remarkable character.

What a sad character that Nigel is.

5. variable noun

Your character is your personality, especially how reliable and honest you are. If someone is of good character, they are reliable and honest. If they are of bad character, they are unreliable and dishonest.

He's begun a series of personal attacks on my character.

Mr Bartman was a man of good character.

Synonyms: reputation, honour, integrity, good name More Synonyms of character

6. uncountable noun

If you say that someone has character, you mean that they have the ability to deal effectively with difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous situations.

[approval]

She showed real character in her attempts to win over the crowd.

I didn't know Ron had that much strength of character.

Synonyms: courage, resolution, determination, guts [informal] More Synonyms of character

7. uncountable noun

If you say that a place has character, you mean that it has an interesting or unusual quality which makes you notice it and like it.

[approval]

An ugly shopping centre stands across from one of the few buildings with character.

8. countable noun

The characters in a film, book, or play are the people that it is about.

The film is autobiographical and the central character is played by Collard himself.

He's made the characters believable.

9. countable noun

If you say that someone is a character, you mean that they are interesting, unusual, or amusing.

[informal]

He'll be sadly missed. He was a real character.

Synonyms: eccentric, card [informal], original, nut [slang] More Synonyms of character

10. countable noun

A character is a letter, number, or other symbol that is written or printed.

11.

See in character/out of character

More Synonyms of character

Video: pronunciation of
character

character in British English

(ˈkærɪktə )

noun

the combination of traits and qualities distinguishing the individual nature of a person or thing

one such distinguishing quality; characteristic

moral force; integrity

a politician of character

reputation, esp a good reputation

(as modifier)

character assassination

a summary or account of a person's qualities and achievements; testimonial

my last employer gave me a good character

capacity, position, or status

he spoke in the character of a friend rather than a father

a person represented in a play, film, story, etc; role

an outstanding person

one of the great characters of the century

9. informal

an odd, eccentric, or unusual person

he's quite a character

10. an informal word for person

a shady character

11.

a symbol used in a writing system, such as a letter of the alphabet

12. Also called: sort printing

any single letter, numeral, punctuation mark, or symbol cast as a type

13. computing

any letter, numeral, etc, which is a unit of information and can be represented uniquely by a binary pattern

14.

a style of writing or printing

15. genetics

any structure, function, attribute, etc, in an organism, which may or may not be determined by a gene or group of genes

16.

a short prose sketch of a distinctive type of person, usually representing a vice or virtue

17. See in character

18. See out of character

verb (transitive)

19.

to write, print, inscribe, or engrave

20. rare

to portray or represent

Derived forms

characterful (ˈcharacterful)

adjective

characterless (ˈcharacterless)

adjective

Word origin

C14: from Latin: distinguishing mark, from Greek kharaktēr engraver's tool, from kharassein to engrave, stamp

Word Frequency

character in American English

(ˈkærəktər ; ˈkærɪktər )

noun

a distinctive mark

any letter, figure, or symbol used in writing and printing

the letters of an alphabet, collectively

style of printing or handwriting

a mystic symbol or magical emblem

a code or cipher

a distinctive trait, quality, or attribute; characteristic

essential quality; nature; kind or sort

the pattern of behavior or personality found in an individual or group; moral constitution

moral strength; self-discipline, fortitude, etc.

reputation

good reputation

left without a shred of character

10.

a statement about the behavior, qualities, etc. of a person, esp. as given by a formeremployer; reference

11.

status; position

12.

a personage

great characters in history

13.

a person in a play, story, novel, etc.

a role as portrayed by an actor or actress

14. Informal

an odd, eccentric, or noteworthy person

15. Genetics

any attribute, as color, shape, etc., caused in an individual by the action of one or more genes

verb transitive

16.

to write, print, or inscribe

17.

to characterize

18. Archaic

to represent; portray

SIMILAR WORDS: ˌdispoˈsition, ˈquality

Idioms:

in (or out of) character

Word origin

ME carecter < OFr caractère < L character, an engraving instrument < Gr charaktēr < charassein, to engrave < charax, pointed stake

Examples of 'character' in a sentence
character

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…

The characters often represent a single emotion.Not many teams show the kind of character and determination we produce.He sells the main character her ticket.But maybe they do still have a character like that.You invest in the characters and what may happen next.There was one biblical character who was famous for it.That shows real strength of character.The other characters are awful people, too!The rural yet central character makes it so appealing, along with about 20 substantial homes with big gardens near top schools.The characters are represented both by the performers and by handheld puppets.